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See this page for current MN Washington County ARES deployment status.

No Activation at this time

Washington County ARES has conducted the 2016 Simulated Emergency Test (SET) Drill on September 24th. Details appear below. ARES members will continue training using nets, meetings, and public service events.

An Amateur Radio-military interoperability exercise will take place October 31 and November 1. The event will begin at 1200 UTC on October 31 and continue through 2359 UTC on November 1 on 60 meter channels 1-4 —5.3305 MHz, 5.3465 MHz, 5.357 MHz, and 5.3715 MHz, respectively.

During this exercise, military stations will attempt to make radio contact with stations in as many of the 3007 US counties as possible. Radio amateurs providing “county status” information will receive a US Department of Defense “interoperability QSL card.”

Washington County ARES successfully conducted its annual Simulated Emergency Test (SET) across September 22-24, 2016. The scenario was a Pandemic like outbreak requiring Washington County ARES members to communicate from their home station or portable station. This SET test used multiple bands and modes to assess ARES capabilities. QSO's were obtained on HF and VHF and used voice, CW, and digital modes. A secondary goal was to get an 80% participation rate among the 31 members.

ARES members from Mississippi and Louisiana have been called on to help with communications among 40 Red Cross shelters during floods in August 2016. Check the ARRL/News web site for additional details.

Members of the Washington County ARES group successfully participated in the July 20 REP Exercise. Sixteen members handled communications for the multiple stations during the exercise. The Amateur Radio Operators (ARO's) used ARMER handheld radios to provide necessary communications. Thanks to all our dedicated members who provide communications services to support our county and communities.

The SARA and WashCo ARES Mobile - Portable - Go-Kit Picnic is Saturday, June 11th, at Brekke Park in Stillwater. It starts at 10:30 am. This is a fun get together for SARA and ARES members to share their mobile, portable, and go-kits with other amateur radio operators. Come on over to share and learn. Take home some good ideas. See how your fellow amateurs have solved their challenges. Hot dogs and beverages will be provided. Join us if you can!! Thanks for your support of Amateur Radio!!

The 2016 Armed Forces Day will hold a Communications test which includes direct Military - Ham communications on the 60 meter band. Modes will include SSB, CW, and digital. QSL cards will be provided for successful contact. The joint military/Amateur Radio event is sponsored by the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. More details are available on http://www.arrl.org/news . Look for the story like the title of this story on the web site.

The Communications Exercise between MARS and ARES held on February 12 is now in the books. Numbered 16-1, the report on the results was good. Communications were established with counties across the state with current conditions reported. Washington County ARES members had several participants. Thanks for your support of Amateur Radio and ARES!! We might be needed tomorrow, so good job in establishing communications.